September 9, 2013

While reading a blog the other day, the author said she wanted to make something in a jelly roll pan but didn't have one. I died a little because my cookie sheets (they're standard half sheet pans aka jelly roll pans and measure 13 x 18) are one of my favorite kitchen tools. I use mine for cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, roasted veggies, chicken, even cupcakes (I always put a pan under the muffin tin to help keep the bottoms from getting too browned). I also use these to carry home dinner, loaves of bread (I usually make about 10 at a time in my Bosch and freeze the rest) or even craft projects when I've been working at my mom's house. The little lip on the side keeps things from tumbling out and they are easy to carry, stack, and use all the time.

I saw my favorite cookie sheets are available at Costco right now and snapped a picture to encourage you to run and buy some if you don't have them (or get them at Amazon of course). The two pack of NordicWare baking sheets is only $11.99. That's $6 each people! I can tell you from experience the one time I saw one of these pans (used) at the thrift store it was $5 (and I bought it).

When I was newlywed I foolishly thought there might be such a thing as too many cookie sheets but have since repented of such crazy talk. To be fair, I didn't make hundreds of cookies or cupcakes back then like I do now. So I say the more the merrier with these handy pans. Barefoot Contessa has a huge stack in her pantry I covet every time I see it.

I've also slowly built up my Silpat collection and now have one for each of my pans (along with a plastic lid- they're so handy). You can read more about Silpats here. I do not miss greasing my pans or scrubby out gunky pans one bit. Costco also has a three pack of knock off silpats (silicone baking mats). Has anyone tried them? I was kind of dying to buy them just to see how they were. Amazon has a 2 pack of generics for $16 as well. Please let me know if you've used them!

September 7, 2013

Did
you see the new Barefoot Contessa episode with Tyler Florence? Baby
rosebud and I loved it! It airs again on Monday, September 9th at noon
if you missed it (see the details here).

{look at them high five, haha!}

They
started by making a birthday cake for Tyler's son. The chocolate cake
was made with buttermilk and the batter looked amazing (Ina is a pro
after all). She made a
ganache frosting and stacked the cake up asymmetrically at Tyler's
request. They decorated the whole thing with bright candies that really
popped off the chocolate frosting. It was beautiful (and I might be
heading to ABC Cake Decorating to finally buy some legit cake pans to make it for Baby Strawberry's FOURTH! birthday next week).

Then
they went to
Ina's favorite place to buy chicken for Jeffery's dinner every Friday.
My kids loved seeing the chickens and I love Tyler quipping about how
proud he was to hear Ina's secrets.

For lunch, he made Fried chicken and
added whole fresh herbs and garlic to the oil to layer the flavors. The
seasoned flour looked amazing. He added Sriracha to the buttermilk for
even more flavor. I liked his tip to fry only a few pieces at a time to
keep the temperature up. I don't fry things often but after I watched him make this recipe I was dying to make some chicken! You can see the recipe here.

Ina
made a winter slaw recipe using shredded kale, radicchio, and Brussels
sprouts. With a fresh lemon vinaigrette, craisins, and some Parmesan, it
looked so light and yummy. I made it for dinner that night and while my
husband wasn't sure that it was actually 'Cole slaw' it was great. The
veggies were crunchy and fresh with the light dressing and the sweet and
salty kicks from the cheese and craisins were perfect. It also only
took a few minutes to make so I think it's going into regular side dish
rotation (although the kids aren't happy about that, they looked at me
like I asked them to cardboard or something!)

The best part of
the episode was when Ina boxed up the enormous three layer cake and said
"I don't envy you getting this home on the airplane." Haha! I hope you
get a chance to watch it because it was a really fun episode full of
great recipes as well. I'll let you know how that big cake goes (this is
a pretty massive undertaking considering I barely passed Wilton Course 1
Cake decorating at the craft store- the employee was hesitant to give
me the participation certificate, no lie!)

PS If you're on Pinterest... Barefoot Contessa
is finally! It's kind of fun to follow her. If you're a dork like me.
Don't tell my friend Kara I wrote this blog post. She'll die. Hopefully
some of you like Ina like I do. And try the slaw. I'd never had Brussels
sprouts before (seriously) and it was fun and yummy to try them.

September 1, 2013

I love reading other people's favorite things. Here are a few products I've been crushing on lately.

Peabody recommended Vanilla Bean Paste and I love it. The jar smells so good and the little vanilla bean flecks taste and look good. It makes my frosting extra pretty and yummy at the same time. I also love the Kirkland Vanilla from Costco if you are looking for a vanilla extract.

Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
It makes a perfect cat eye and the pen shaped applicator is so easy to use. If you're not into thicker eyeliner the tapered brush does a nice thin line as well. By the end of the day it still looks perfect (and that's really saying something in the Arizona Summer!) Even better, it doesn't bother my sensitive eyes like most liquid eye liners. It's even $5 cheaper on Amazon.

The Oxo Stainless Steel Brush- I found one of these at Ross a few years ago and have been using this kind ever since. It's pretty, cleans up amazingly well, and wears so much better than the plastic kind I used to use. It really lasts forever and even my mom loves it (that's a pretty strong endorsement).

Vintage Floral iPhone Case from Agent 18. I got mine at TJ Maxx and it's really cute, super sturdy, and slides smoothly in and out of my pocket and diaper bag. I'm high maintenance like that. I've gotten a lot of comment about this case and pink puffy heart love it (although my baby liked my old higher contrast black and white one better. You win some you lose some).

My brother and sister-in-law loaned us Big Bang Theory and we're hooked. It's ridiculously funny- especially if you know a lot of engineers like we do. Try it out.

I have a few little mess makers and ended up using my Bar Keeper's Friend several times this week. My stainless steel pan looks perfect after a quick scrub, my glass stove top is shiny, my vanity is perfectly clean, and my shower is whiter now too. Plus, it's only a dollar at Target.

I hadn't read Little Women before. It was wonderful. It's free for Kindle, too. I can't believe how many sections I highlighted but I loved so much of this book:

"I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks, and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end," he said dolefully. "Go and eat your dinner, you'll feel better after it. Men always croak when they are hungry," and Jo whisked out at the front door after that. "That's a 'label on my 'sect'," answered Laurie, quoting Amy." {too true!}

"Then let me advise you to take up your little burdens again, for though they seem heavy sometimes, they are good for us, and lighten as we learn to carry them. Work is wholesome, and there is plenty for everyone. It keeps us from ennui and mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence better than money or fashion."

"Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty."

I think it's time to listen to Marmee and get folding laundry and washing dishes instead of wishing away time on the internet. Read Little Women again and let me know what you think.